Appendix 1. Descriptions of small mammals found at MWR according to (Smithers et al., 2005). Mean weights given are from all adult individuals caught at MWR during the study.

Species & (weight) / Activity and habitat / Diet / Shelter / Hibernation / Reproduction
Order: INSECTIVORA
Lesser Red
Shrew
Crocidura hirta
(13g) / Nocturnal –
vlei
grasslands / Insectivorous / Cup shaped nests under cover / No / Breeds September-May. Gestation 22 days. Litter size 3-4. 2 litter per season. Caravans.
Greater Dwarf
Shrew,
Suncus lixus (9g) / Nocturnal –
vlei
grasslands / Insectivorous / Found in termite mounds / No / Litters born in summer
Order: MACROSCELIDEA
Short-snouted
Elephant shrew,
Elephantulus
brachyrhynchus
(43g) / Nocturnal and
diurnal –
woodland
with dense
grass / Primarily insectivorous,
but takes some vegetation / Found in termite mounds, burrows and
under vegetation / Undergoes
Periods of
torpor in winter / Breeding peaks in summer. Litter size two precocial young. Possibly monogamous
Order: RODENTIA
Red Veld Rat,
Aethomys
chrysophilus
(74g) / Nocturnal –
open savanna
with trees / Seeds, berries, vegetation and fruit / Burrows / No / Litter size 6 – breeds throughout year.
Grey Climbing
Mouse,
Dendromus
melanotis (7g) / Nocturnal –
dense tall
grasslands / Insectivorous – some seeds. / Burrows of other species. In summer builds nests in grass / Unknown / Litter size 4 and breeds in summer.
Single-Striped
Mouse,
Lemniscomys
rosalia (54g) / Diurnal –
tall grassland / Seeds / Burrows / No / Gestation 24-33 days. Litter size 5. Born in Summer.
Multimammate Mouse, Mastomys natalensis (38g) / Nocturnal –
Habitat generalist / Omnivorous / Burrows / No, but juveniles can go through growth stop during winter / Breeds in wet warm season, Gestation 23 days. Litter size 6-12.
Pygmy Mouse,
Mus indutus (5g) / Nocturnal –
Open grasslands / Omnivorous / Burrows, under logs and termite mounds / No / Gestation 19 days. Litter size usually 4, born summer.
Pouched Mouse,
Saccostomus
campestris (55g) / Nocturnal –
open savanna
with trees / Seeds – forages up to 200m from burrow / Burrows / Becomes
torpid in
cold weather / Breeds Jan-April in Botswana. Gestation 21 days. Litter size 7.
Fat Mouse,
Steatomys pratensis (23g) / Nocturnal –
grasslands / Mostly seeds, with some insects / Self made burrows / Less active during cold months / Litters up to 9, usually 3-4, are born between Oct-May.
Bushveld Gerbil,
Tatera
leucogaster (71g)
/ Nocturnal –
likes reduced
litter i.e. burn
areas. / Omnivorous, 30% green, 25% veg., 40% insects / Burrows – may develop warrens. / No / Breeds throughout year. Peak in summer. Litter size 4-5.
Vlei rat, Otomys irroratus (144g)
/ Active in
bouts day and
night – dense
grasslands / Stems and leaves / Nests saucer shaped in grass tussocks. / No / 7 litters between August and May. Gestation 40 days litter size 1-4. Lifespan 2 years.

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